Apparatus for recording and reproducing music.



0. w. NYSTRD'M.

APPARATUS FOR RECORDING AND RBPRODUOING MUSIG.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1909.

1,046,487. Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

CDLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-,WASHINOTON, D c.

G. W. NYSTR'O'M.

APPARATUS FOR RECORDING AND RBPRODUGING MUSIC. I

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1909.

CARL WILHELM NYsTRoM, or KARLSTAD, SWEDEN.

APPARATUS FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUCING MUSIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed March 25, 1909. Serial No. 485,797.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL WILHELM NY- srnom', engineer, subject ofSweden, residing at Karlstad, Sweden, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Becording and Reproducing Music, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention consists in improvements in apparatus for recording andreproducing music produced on key-instruments. The improvements areespecially adapted to be applied to apparatus of a previously knowntype, consisting of a rotary cylinder or an advancing note strip, onwhich impressions are made during the performance of a piece of music,by means of cutting tools, entering into action when the keys aredepressed, said impressions consisting in lines, the lengths of whichdepend on how long the keys have been depressed. For reproducing saidpiece of music, which can be done on the same instrument or on anotherkey instrument, reproducing tools are made to abut against a rotarycylinder or a note strip provided with such impressions, whereby, whenthe reproducing tools enter the said impressions, the corresponding keysare depressed by means of a lever transmission between the reproducingtools and'the keys. In apparatus of this known type only one cuttingtool and one reproducing tool have been used actuated from oractuatingeach key, and the impressions on the cylinder or the note strip havebeen independent of the "ariations of the tone intensity. It has beenproposed to record and to reproduce said variations by means of specialdevices, but such devices are very complicated and have not workedsatisfactorily.

According to the present invention two or more cutting tools areemployed for each key, successively entering into action at differenttimes according to the velocity with which the key is depressed, andthus two or more impressions are made on the rotating cylinder or theadvancing note strip for each tone, said impressions representing thelength as well as the intensity of the tone in question.

For reproducing the piece of music two or more reproducing tools areused for each key, successively entering into action at different timesaccording to the impressions on the note strip or cylinder, whereby thekey is depressed with more or less power.

On the drawings Figure 1 shows the apparatus in vertical section; Fig. 2is a view from behind from the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of a spindle on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 3 showing the boss in its lowest position; Fig. 4 is a plan View onan enlarged scale of a pair of cutting tools and their electromagnets;Fig. 5 is a side view of said pair of cutting tools; Fig. 6 shows partof the note strip with impressions thereon; Fig. 7 is a plan of amodified construction of part of the lever transmission for actuatingthe keys; Fig. 8 is a side view of the same; Fig. 9 is a side view ofthe electromagnets and the lever mechanism for actuating the keys; Fig.9 is a detail sectional view showing the means for adjusting thearmature; Fig. 10 is a plan of the same; Fig. 11 is a plan of thereproducing tools; Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the same; Fig. 13 isa plan of the boss and the contacts shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 14 is anelevation of a modified construction of lever for actuating the keys;Fig. 15 is a modified form of the spindle which controls the movement ofthe key and the closing of the magnet circuits.

1, Fig. 1, indicates the frame work of the apparatus, which is adaptedto be applied on a key instrument at 2. A frame 3 is adjustably jointedto the upper part of the frame work of the apparatus and carriesbrackets 4.- with bearings for three cylinders 5, 6 and 7. A strip 8 ofpaper, cloth or the like, coated on the one side with a thin wax-likematerial, is led from the cylinder 5 to the cylinder 7 over the cylinder6. The cylinder 7 is rotated by' any suitable means, not shown on thedrawing, such as for instance an electro-motor.

For each key two cutting tools 9, 10, Figs. 3, 4 and 5, are arranged,projecting below the cylinder 6 so as to come into contact with thestrip 8. The tools 9, 10 are carried by levers 11, 12, rocking on shafts13, 14. and carrying armatures 15, 16, below which electromagnets 17, 18are placed. Said electromagnets successively are made active by means ofa vertical spindleQ-O resting on the key 19. In a strip 21, serving asguide for the spindles 20, two contacts 22, 23 are fixed at differentheights. Above said contacts a boss 24 is placed on the spindle 20,resting on a fixed boss 25 on the spindle 20 and actuated by a spring26, inserted between the boss 24 and a strip 27. The boss 24 has aconical boring 28, through which the spindle 20 passes, so that it canoccupy an oblique position on the spindle. It is moreover provided withtwo contacts 29, 3O placed opposite to the contacts 22, 23, andinsulated one from the other, Fig. 13.

The device now described, in which the strip 8, the cutting tools 9 and10, in combination with the electromagnets, entering into action when akey is depressed, are previously known, works in the following manner.When the key 19 is depressed, the spindle 20 descends by its own weightand under the influence of the spring 26, whereby at first the contact22 is caused to abut against the contact 29. Hereby an electric circuitis closed through the electromagnet 17, which attracts the armature 15on the lever 11, so that the cutting tool 9 makes an impression 31 onthe note strip 8, Fig. 6. During the continued motion downward of thekey 19 the boss 24 is placed in an oblique position, so that the contact23 is caused to abut against the contact 30, whereby the electriccircuit is closed through the electromagnet 18, which attracts itsarmature 16, causing the cutting tool 10 to make an impression 32 on thenote strip 8. It will be obvious, that the more forcibly the key 19 isdepressed, the shorter time will lapse between the moment when thecutting tool 9 enters into action to the moment when the cutting tool 10enters into action, and the length of the impression made by the cuttingtool 10 thus will come more and more near the length of the impression,made by the cutting tool 9, as indicated at 33, 34, 35, 36, 3.7, 38, and39 40 in which latter case the key 19 is depressed. so powerfully, thatis so fortissimo, that the cutting tools 9 and 10 have entered intoaction al most simultaneously. By employing a device, such as thatdescribed, in connection with each key impressions 31, 32,-39, 40 aremade on the note strip, during the performance of a piece of music. Theimpressions 31, 33, 35, 3'7 and 39 indicate by their length the lei'igthof the tones played while the strength of the tones is indicated by thedifference between the lengths of the impressions 31, 33, 35, 37 and 39and the im pressions 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 respectivel In order torecord the variations of the intensity of the tones more completely,more than two cutting tools, each combined with an electromagnet, whichis made active by closing an electric contact, may be provided, eachelectric contact being closed successively during the depression of thekey. By these means, for each tone played a number of impressions ofdifferent lengths are made on the note strip, whereby the difference oflength between the impressions is the smaller, the more powerful the keyis depressed.

For reproducing the piece of musicrecorded in the manner just described,on the same key instrument or on another key instrument, a number ofreproducing tools corresponding to the number of cutting tools isemployed for each key, said reproducing tools being caused to enter intothe impressions on the note strip 8 made by the cutting tools, afterthat said strip has been wound back again upon the cylinder 5, wherebythe reproducing tools in a previously known manner close electriccircuits through electromagnets, which depress the key through asuitable lever connection.

Each reproducing tool comprises two parallel springs 41, 42, Figs. 11and 12, the upper one 41 of which is bent in U-form. The springs 41, 42form electric contacts 43, 44 at their ends. The spring 42 carries a pin45, passing through a hole in an arc- ,shaped part 46 of the upperspring 41. Two such reproducing tools 47, 48 are provided, actuating oneand the same key, and they are all arranged in an adjustable frame 49,

which is placed in such a position to the cylinder 6, which during thereproduction is moved over to the position shown with dotted lines inFig. 1, that the pins 45 abut against the note band 8.

Each pair 47, 48 of reproducing tools is electrically connected with apair of electromagnets 50, 51, Figs. 9 and 10. The arma ture 52 of theelectromagnet is carried by a lever 53, rocking on the shaft 54. Thearmature 55 of the second electromagnet 151 is carried by a lever 56,also rocking on said shaft 54. To the lever 56 is jointed a lever 57,the shorter arm 58 of which rests against the upper end of the spindle20. The

lever 57 carries at its end an arc-shaped piece 59 placed in front of arotating cylinder 60. ustably arranged on the upper parts 61, 62

The armatures and 55 are ad- :of the levers 53, 56. For the sake ofclear- {ness the adjusting means are shown only for the armature 52. Itcomprises a screw 63 passing through a threaded hole in the cen- .ter ofthe armature 52 and penetrating a hole in the part 61 and actuated by aspring 64. Two pins 65 prevent swinging movement of the armature. Thelever 53 is provided with a projection 66, through which extends a screw67 resting on the lever 56. The reproducing device now described 'actsin the following manner. The frame 49 is ad usted so that the plus 45are resting on the note strip 8 and so that they are put in line withthe impressions 31, 32, on said note strip. For each pair of impressions31, 32, 33, 34- one pair of reproducing tools 47, 48 and pins 45 areprovided.

When during the motion of the note strip 8 the pin 45 belonging to areproducing tool, say the reproducing tool 48, enters an impression, saythe impression 31, the contacts 43, 44 are closed, whereby the electriccircuit is closed through the electromagnet 50, which attracts itsarmature 52 against the action of the spring 68. Thus the lever 53 isturned taking with it by means of the screw 67 the lever 56, whichbrings the arcshaped piece 159 in contact with the rotating cylinder 60.The lever 57 is thereby turned upward, whereby the spindle 20 isdepressed and the key, on which the spindle 20 rests, is depressed. Thearmature 52 is adjusted in such a way that the piece 59 is pressed witha very light pressure against the cylinder 60. During the continuedmotion of the note strip 8 the pin belonging to the second reproducingtool 47 of the pair in question will enter the second impression 32belonging to the same tone, whereby in an analogous manner theelectromagnet 51, which is electrically connected with said tool, ismade active. It thus attracts its armature 55 and presses the piece 59more energetically against the rotating cylinder 60, whereby the spindle20 is depressed more energetically and the tone is struck moreintensely. The tone thus will be struck with the same touch, that isindicated by the impressions on the note strip for that tone, and assaid impressions represent the length and touch of the tone playedduring the performance of the piece of music, the said tone will bereproduced with the same length and touch.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a modified arrangement of the arc-shaped piece 59with the object to make the depression of the key softer. The lever 57carrying the areshaped piece 59 is jointed to the lever 56 as before,but the arm 58 resting upon the spindle 20 constitutes a separate lever,which is jointed to the lever 57 at 69. The lever 57 is provided with aprojecting arm 70, to which is fixed a spring 71, the other end of whichis fixed to the arm 58. When the are 59 is lifted by the rotatingcylinder 60 the strength of the spring 71 must be overcome before thearm 58 can depress the spindle 20.

As shown on the drawing the recording device as well as the reproducingdevice is undetachably fixed in the apparatus, which thus serves forrecording as well as for reproducing a piece of music. Obviously thereproducing device may be attached to a special frame, which can beapplied to a key instrument, whereas the recording device may beattached to another frame and applied to another key instrument. Theadvance of the arrangement as shown is that the adjustment of thedifferent parts is unnecessary each time a piece of music is to bereproduced.

To enable an adjustment of the spindles 20 according to the unevennessof the key board, the spindles are made in two parts, as shown in Figs.1 and 2, which are connected by means of sleeve 72, which can be clampedtogether at its upper part. When the sleeve 72 is loosened so that theupper part of the spindle is free, a spring 74, inserted between a boss73 and the sleeve 72, presses the parts of the spindle from one another,so that the lower part of the spindle is caused to rest firmly on thekey 19. In the same manner as described such variations, which areperformed by means of the pedals, can be recorded and reproduced. Forthis purpose spindles, such as described, are connected with the pedals,acting upon cutting tools and acted upon by reproducing tools of theconstruction described.

Fig. 14 shows an arrangement in which the lever 53 carries aspring-actuated arcshaped piece 59 constructed as shown in Figs. 7 and8, whereas the lever 56 carries another arc-shaped piece 75 constructedin the manner shown in Fig. 9, both said pieces actuating one and thesame spindle 20. In this case the projection 66 and the screw 67 areomitted. The function is that the piece 59 is first brought in contactwith the rotating cylinder 60, whereby the key ,is depressed softly, andthen the piece 75 enters into action, causing the key to be depressedforcibly. The two pieces thus enter into action in succession, and theinterval of time depends upon the impressions recorded for the key inquestion.

Fig. 15 shows a device for enlarging the movements of the key in orderto get the proper movement of the spindle 20. The spindle 20 is shownresting on the outer end of a lever 7 6 rocking on 77, and between saidlever and the key 19 at a point near to the rocking point 77 a spindle78 is inserted.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a sound recording and reproducing attachment forkey instruments, the combination with means for supporting the recordingstrip, of recording means operated by the depression of a key to contactwith said strip, reproducing means adapted to contact with the recordstrip to operate the keys, and means for moving the record-stripsupporting means to bring the same in contact with either the recordingmeans or the reproducing means.

2. In a sound recording and reproducing attachment for key instruments,the combination with a roller supporting the recording strip, adjustablerecording means operated by the depression of the key to contact withsaid strip, adjustable reproducing means adapted to contact with therecording strip to operate the keys, and means for moving the roller tobring the recording strip in contact with either the recording means orthe reproducing means.

3. In a device for recording a piece of music performed on a keyinstrument, in combination, a plurality of cutting tools for her andarranged to successively engage said fixed contacts, and circuitconnections between said contacts and said magnets Whereby said magnetsassociated With any one key Will be successively energized upon theactuation of said key.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CARL l VILHELM NYSTROM.

Witnesses:

VALDEMAR BOMAN, T. EKIBOHM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Ratents,

Washington, D. C.

